Sufi Reverberations Podcast
The Sufi Reverberations Podcast is a weekly program that features a poem, a story, a meditation, and a musical interlude that give expression to one Sufi's reflections concerning the mystical dimension of Islam. The length of each program varies, but any given episode is scheduled to run somewhere between 30 and 45 minutes. The podcasts are produced through the Interrogative Imperative Institute where the process of asking questions becomes an artful journey toward solutions for life.
If you would like to subscribe (it is free) to the Sufi Reverberations Podcast and receive new podcasts as they become available, then, use the following url to access the podcast.
The podcast website URL can be accessed by clicking on the following link
The RSS feed for the podcast is:
https://feeds.buzzsprout.com/238325.rss
The Apple Podcasts URL for this podcast can be accessed by clicking on the following link:
For the most part, the Sufi Reverberations Podcst has been suspended. However, from time to time, something seems worth saying and, consequently, that "something" sometimes finds it way, God willing, to being made public. The attached podcast is such a "something."
A Commentary concerning the events of October 7, 2023.
This episode explores some basic considerations concerning the nature of the Sufi path. Included is a discussion involving the Names of Divinity as well as an account of spiritual abuse at the hands of an alleged Sufi shaykh.
This podcast provides a brief overview of various ways of engaging the notions of: States, stations, and stages in conjunction with the mystical journey or suluk to which the mystical dimension of Islam gives expression. The Sufi path is neither linear nor static, but entails a nuanced and diverse dynamic which gives expression to a complex interaction involving: (1) the capacity or fitra of a seeker; (2) the nature of the practices observed (as well as the quality through which those practices are pursued); (3) the nature of the nisbath or spiritual chemistry between the seeker and the Sought that takes place through the locus of manifestation that is referred to as a spiritual guide or shaykh who has been assigned various degrees of oversight on the authority of the Prophetic tradition, and (4) the barakah or spiritual blessings that are conferred on a given individual as God wishes.
After an extended break to recover from some of the contingencies of life, a ensemble of six pieces of floetry (poetry accompanied by music) have been assembled which address or touch upon various themes of relevance to the Sufi mystical path.
Episode 13 of the Sufi Reverberations Podcast offers some critical reflections concerning the issue of shari'ah. It is based on materials from the book: "Shari'ah: A Muslim's Declaration of Independence, 2nd Edition.
If one were to characterize scientific methodology, one might indicate that it consists of the following sorts of procedures or protocols: (1) empirical observation; (2) the use of instrumentation; (3) recursive methodology; (4) objectivity; (5) a community of expertise; (6) experimental replication, and (7) reliable prediction. My contention is that authentic mysticism gives expression to all of the aforementioned aspects of scientific methodology, and the following discussion seeks to provide something of an overview that lends support to the foregoing contention concerning the scientific nature of mysticism when this existential orientation is properly pursued, and I will use the Sufi path as a specific case study.
Describes nine stages of love from a Sufi perspective by providing brief characterizations of: (1) compatibility, (2) inclination, (3) fellowship, (4) passion, (5) friendship, (6) exclusive friendship, (7) ardent affection, (8) enslavement, and (9) bewilderment.
An overview is provided concerning different kinds of knowledge -- both secular and spiritual. During the course of this overview a number of anecdotes are related, and, as well, several Hadiths and an ayat of the Qur'an are also provided.
Two short Hadiths (sayings) of the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) are briefly explored and connected.
My memory of an account concerning a Sufi shaykh that had been related by my spiritual guide.
A brief overview concerning a lens through which to engage the notions of witnessing and visions.
What is the literal meaning of: "Mary had a little lamb"?
Three brief accounts that help give expression to the nature of the Sufi Path.
A brief description of eight kinds of people are given.
A statement of intentions concerning the future of the Sufi Reverberations Podcast.
A hadith qudsi is given -- and, then, elaborated upon -- that provides an overview of the nature of the Sufi path.
Once again, I intend to leap into the mysterious complex of dimensionalities through which we all are manifested and, in the process, travel in a different direction from earlier podcasts, both recent as well as those past episodes that are more distant in time. Moreover, unlike previous podcasts, the offerings that – moving forward – are, God willing, to be presented here should be quite brief – a sort of minimalist motif in which less could serve as more. However, despite, their brevity, such offerings hopefully, insha’ Alla, might provide much food for thought.
I am not a shaykh or teacher, nor am I am inviting you – a prospective listener -- to join anything. Moreover, I am not trying to sell you anything or request your e-mail for some sort of backdoor interaction later on.
I am someone who, for much of my life, has been seeking to discover the nature of my relationship with Being or Reality. In this regard, for a period of some 15-16 years, I had the good fortune of spending a considerable amount of time in the company of a Sufi saint of the 20th century, but, as well, for a period of 8 years, or so, following the aforementioned camaraderie with an authentic spiritual guide, I, subsequently, also travelled through the valley of illusory shadows that were cast by a second individual who was a spiritual charlatan, and, so, as a result, I got to experience some of the challenges of spirituality from several perspectives, and, in the process, I have come to realize that God teaches not only through difficulty and ease, but through all the experiences of one’s life, irrespective of whether such experiences conform with one’s likes and dislikes.
The orientation of each podcast will be to share some idea or small set of ideas with others who might have an interest in what is said here. These thoughts will often – but not always -- originate from sources other than me.
My intention is merely to let those thoughts fall where they may … hoping that such auditory reverberations will induce the listener (or listeners) to critically and spiritually resonate with what is being said in constructive ways within her, his, or their lives. Most of the podcast entries will be devoid of explanations or elaborations and, instead, will focus on just giving expression to a certain kind of perspective.
The world these days is replete will all manner of destructive emotions, concepts, inclinations, and behaviors. So, an idea that, like a shooting star, was passing through my awareness on a given occasion suggested the notion of conducting a counterinsurgency of spiritual possibilities that gave expression to different facets of the Sufi mystical tradition … facets that I believe have the potential for a constructive impact on one’s life irrespective of one’s spiritual orientation.
I have no expectations about how any of this will unfold. Maybe, it will end up as the sound of one hand clapping, and all I will have to do is try to figure out whether it is the left hand or the right hand that is causing a commotion.
The frequency of the episodes being alluded to here is also likely to be a little uncertain for the foreseeable future. Presumably, as a friend of God is reported to have said: “the wind bloweth where it listeth.”
Although, for the most part, the Sufi Reverberations Podcast is not currently releasing any new episodes -- although there some occasional, relatively sporadic postings made through that portal -- this special message has been posted in order to inform you that Anab Whitehouse has joined together with Masake Kane from Senegal to collaborate on a new podcast entitled: Hearts Across the Waters. You can find the first several episodes of the new podcast at:
https://www.heartsacrossthewaters.com.
In addition, other information concerning the podcast can also be found on that webpage. Or, if you like, you can go directly to the podcast's Buzzsprout page which can be found at:
https://heartsacrossthewaters.buzzsprout.com ,
or add the following RSS designation to whatever device you use to download podcasts:
https://feeds.buzzsprout.com/1922348.rss
Thank you for listening, and I hope you will engage the new Hearts Across the Waters podcast.
Although I have covered and explored in some detail the extended arguments surrounding the issue of a constitutional standing for people that is entirely independent of both federal and state institutions of governance through other video documentaries that appear on this channel page of DrAnab, I realize that many people might only view or listen to small segments of those longer documentaries and, therefore, actually fail to grasp what is at the heart of those longer videos and, as a result, move on prematurely before engaging the revolutionary points that are being established through those videos.
So, I have decided to try to significantly reduce the temporal framework through which those overarching issues can be clearly and succinctly stated. More specifically, for more than 320 years, there has been an unresolved, dynamic problem present in the Constitution that has never – and I do mean never – been heard, addressed, or properly engaged.
Relatively recently, Alan Dershowitz, an American criminal and constitutional lawyer, has claimed that government has a right to forcibly vaccinate individuals in order to protect the health of the public in general. I do not believe that his claim is tenable, and while elucidating what I consider to be the errors in his way of thinking will take a bit of time to delineate, nonetheless, I believe the exercise will be worth the time and effort that are required to concentrate and reflect on the ideas that follow.
Let’s begin with a counterclaim to Mr. Dershowitz assertions concerning forcible, mandated inoculations, and let’s use this as a starting point through which to explore a variety of issues from the perspective which is inherent in such a counterclaim. More specifically, consider the following thesis: The unspecified, retained rights of the Ninth Amendment and the unspecified, reserved powers of the Tenth Amendment are independent of the jurisdiction of both the federal government as well as the state governments. Therefore, the executive, legislative, and/or the judicial branches of federal and state governments do not have any constitutional standing or authority with respect to identifying, designating, defining, or making rulings concerning the conceptual structure and/or content that might be entailed by either the retained rights or reserved powers of the Ninth and Tenth Amendments respectively.
Another way of stating the foregoing thesis is the following. Anyone (whether government official, lawyer, judge, media personality, senator, representative, corporate official, or academic) who tries to claim that the Constitution recognizes only the rights, powers, and sovereignty of federal or state authorities, and, thereby, allegedly establishes that individuals do not have retained rights and reserved powers under the Ninth and Tenth Amendments that give expression to a separate, independent venue of rights, powers and sovereignty which is not subject to the authority of either the federal or state governments is engaging, knowingly or unknowingly, in a process of seeking to gaslight whomever they are addressing.
Now, let’s take a look at a Constitutional provision that complements what already has been said. More specifically, the provisions of Article IV, Section 4 of the U.S. Constitution:
“… guarantee to every state in this union a republican form of government”
… that is, a form of governance is being guaranteed which must abide by the principles of republicanism (a moral philosophy that came to prominence during the Enlightenment and influenced the formation of the Constitution) that require government officials to be individuals who are: Impartial, disinterested in personal gain, unbiased, selfless, objective, fair, honorable, given to reason, compassionate, inclined toward self-sacrifice, committed to the idea of liberty, as well as require individuals in government to act with integrity, independence, egalitarianism, and who are opposed to the idea of serving as judges in their own causes.
This is the fifth, and final, episode of a five-part series on the U.S. Constitution which explores the meaning of: The establishment clause of the 1st Amendment, along with the nature and scope of the 9th and 10th Amendments, as well as the guarantee clause of Article IV, Section 4 of the Constitution. All of the foregoing is pursued in relation to the roles of Congress, the Executive, and the Judiciary.
This is the fourth episode in a five-part series on the U.S. Constitution which explores the meaning of: The establishment clause of the 1st Amendment, along with the nature and scope of the 9th and 10th Amendments, as well as the guarantee clause of Article IV, Section 4 of the Constitution. All of the foregoing is pursued in relation to the roles of Congress, the Executive, and the Judiciary.
This is the third episode in a five-part series on the U.S. Constitution which explores the meaning of: The establishment clause of the 1st Amendment, along with the nature and scope of the 9th and 10th Amendments, as well as the guarantee clause of Article IV, Section 4 of the Constitution. All of the foregoing is pursued in relation to the roles of Congress, the Executive, and the Judiciary.
This is the second episode in a five-part series on the U.S. Constitution which explores the meaning of: The establishment clause of the 1st Amendment, along with the nature and scope of the 9th and 10th Amendments, as well as the guarantee clause of Article IV, Section 4 of the Constitution. All of the foregoing is pursued in relation to the roles of Congress, the Executive, and the Judiciary.
This is the first of a five-part series on the U.S. Constitution which explores the meaning of: The establishment clause of the 1st Amendment, along with the nature and scope of the 9th and 10th Amendments, as well as the guarantee clause of Article IV, Section 4 of the Constitution. All of the foregoing is pursued in relation to the roles of Congress, the Executive, and the Judiciary.
This podcast contains a special announcement for those who have listened, or are listening, to past episodes of the Sufi Reverberations Podcast. This announcement indicates how those who are interested can access and download -- for free -- one, or more, of the 38 books that have bubbled to the surface in me over the last couple of decades-plus. The books are in pdf format. In addition, the announcement informs listeners about various other free possibilities that are available to them through my website -- https://www.anab-whitehouse.com.
Episode #52 of the Sufi Reverberations Podcast contains: A poem 'The Present Reality' by Shaykh Ahmad al-Alawi; a short story - 'The Interview'; a musical interlude - 'Subtle Changes', and a meditative essay - "Contentment". Final podcast episode.
Episode #51 of the Sufi Reverberations Podcast contains: A poem by Shaykh Ahmad Al-Alawi; a short story - "Seeking"; a musical interlude - "Weightless", and a meditative essay - "Jamal-Jalal".
Episode #50 of the Sufi Reverberations Podcast contains: A poem by Rumi; a short story - 'Blindman's Buff'; a musical interlude - 'Spring Air', and a meditative essay - ' Fatiha'.
Episode #49 of the Sufi Reverberations Podcast contains: An excerpt from the Mathnawi of Rumi; a short story - "Focus"; a musical interlude - "Caring", and a meditative essay - "Adab".
Episode #48 of the Sufi Reverberations Podcast contains: An excerpt from Rumi's Mathnawi; a short story - 'What Would You Do?'; a musical interlude - 'Nice Work', and a meditative essay - 'Ego'.
Episode #47 of the Sufi Reverberations Podcast contains the following: An excerpt from Book 5 of Rumi's Mathnawi; a story story - "Humble Beginnings"; a musical interlude - "Drizzle", and a Meditative Essay - "Yaqueen".
Episode #46 of the Sufi Reverberations Podcast contains: A selection from the Mathnawi of Rumi; a short story - 'No Tme'; a musical interlude - "Starlight", and a meditative essay - "Prayer".
Episode #45 of the Sufi Reverberations Podcast contains: A selection from Rumi's Mathnawi; a short story - "What's Your Secret"; a musical interlude - "City Lights"; and a meditative essay - "Science".
Episode #44 of the Sufi Reverberations Podcast contains the following: A selection from the 'Mathnawi' of Rumi; a short story - 'Dream On'; a musical interlude - 'Sierra's Lullaby', and a meditative essay - 'Catalysis'.
Episode #43 of the Sufi Reverberations Podcast contains the following: A selection from the Divan of Rumi; a short story - "Dancing With The Moon"; a musical interlude - "Serene", and a meditative essay - "Curriculum".
Episode #42 of the Sufi Reverberatins Podcast contains: A Floetry arrangement of a selection from the Mathnawi; a short story - "Curiosity Shoppe"; a musical interlude - "Curiosity", and a meditative essay - "Alhamdulilah".
Episode #41 of the Sufi Reverberations Podcast contains: A Floetry selection - "Sovereignty"; a short story - "Asymmetry"; a musical interlude - "Natural Wonders", and a meditative essay - "Bismillah".
Episode #40 of the Sufi Reverberations Podcast contains: A Floetry selection - "Attraction"; a short story - "A Problem and Its Solution"; a musical interlude - "Higher Love", and a meditative essay - "Ghayr" (or other).
Episode #39 of the Sufi Reverberations Podcast contains the following items: A Floetry selection entitled - "Emotional Flow"; a short story - "A Father Complains"; a musical interlude - "ComeTogether", and a meditative essay - "Heedlessness".
Episode #38 of the Sufi Reverberations Podcast contains: A Floetry selection - "Explosive Questions"; a short story - "Falling Upwards"; a musical interlude - "Far Away Places", and a meditative essay - "Hatred".
Episode #37 of Sufi Reverberations Podcast contains: A Floetry selection entitled - "Freedom Came Today"; a short story - "Confessions"; a musical interlude - "Down The Road", and a meditative essay - "Exoteric".
Episode #36 of the Sufi Reverberations Podcast contains: A Floetry selection entitled - "Invitation"; a short story - "The Crying Beggar"; a musical interlude - "Rest Assured", and a meditative essay - "Government".
Episode #35 of Sufi Reverberations Podcast contains the following: A Floetry selection entitled - "Gratitude"; a short story - "Poison and its Antidote"; a musical interlude - "Wonderful World", and a meditative essay - "Expectations".
Episode #34 of the Sufi Reverberations Podcast contains: A Floetry selection entitled - "Ode To Those Who Wage War On Peace"; a short story - "Phoenix Rising"; a musical interlude - "Ice Caps", and a meditative essay - "Autonomy".
Episode #33 of the Sufi Reverberations Podcast contains: A Floetry selection - "Salaam"; a short story - "Asceticism"; a musical interlude - "Inner Peace", and a meditative essay - "Ruh" (Spirit).
Episode #32 of the Sufi Reverberations Podcast contains the following: A Floetry selection entitled - "The Crowd Roared"; a short story - "Second Opinion"; a musical interlude - "Between The Lines", and a meditative essay - "Faith".
Episode 31 of the Sufi Reverberations Podcast contains: A Floetry selection entitled - "Aspirations"; a short story - "The Worthless Son"; a musical interlude - "Revisiting", and a meditative essay - "Haqiqa"
Episode #30 of Sufi Reverberations Podcast contains: A Floetry selection entitled "Random Thoughts"; a short story - "Mirror, Mirror"; a musical interlude - "Breeze", and a meditative essay - "Death".
Episode #29 of the Sufi Reverberations Podcast contains: A Floetry selection entitled - "Mysteries"; a short story - "Who Goes There?"; a musical interlude - "In This Moment"; an announcment concerning the book gifting project at Patreon, and a meditative essay - "Identity".
Episode #28 of the Sufi Reverberations Podcast contains: A Floetry selection - "Tears of Life"; a short story - "Job Well Done"; a musical interlude - "Beginning", and a mediative essay - "Listen".
Episode #27 of the Sufi Reverberations Podcast contains: A Floetry selection - "Medina"; a short story - "Absence"; a musical interlude - "Common Ground", an announcement concerning You Tube postings, and a meditative essay - "Evil".
Episode #26 of the Sufi Reverberations Podcast contains: A Floetry selection entitled: "Mecca"; a short story bearing the title - "A Gift"; a musical interlude - "Longing"; and a meditative essay - "Keys"
The 25th episode of Sufi Reverberations Podcast contains: A selection of Floetry entitled "The Guru"; a short story - "Storm"; a musical interlude - "Take A Look Around", and a meditative essay - "Mureed".
Episode #24 of the Sufi Reverberations Podcast contains: A selection of Floetry entitled - 'Nature'; a short story - 'What's In A Word?'; a musical interlude - "Tenderness", and a meditative essay - 'Dhawk'.
Episode #23 of the Sufi Reverberations Podcast contains: A Floetry selection entitled 'Fragile'; a short story - 'The Building of Rome'; a musical interlude - 'Make A Wish'; and a meditative essay - 'Betrayal'.
Episode #22 of the Sufi Reverberations Podcast contains: A selection of Floetry entitled - 'Rhythms of Spiritual Longing'; a short story - 'Fantasy'; a musical interlude - 'Tenderness'; an announcement about free Bridge software, and a meditative essay - 'Baqa'.
Episode #21 of the Sufi Reverberations Podcast contains: A selection of Floetry entitled - 'Muhammad (peace be upon him)'; a short story - 'Snake Charmer'; a musical interlude - 'Tranquil'; an announcment about free Bridge software, and a meditative essay - 'Dependence'.
Episode #20 of the Sufi Reverberations Podcast contains: A selection of Floetry entitled - 'Remembrance'; a short story - 'Becoming An Artisan'; a musical interlude - 'Favorite Season'; an announcement about a Patreon project, and a meditative essay - 'Curriculum'.
Episode #19 of the Sufi Reverberations Podcast contains: A selection of Floetry entitled - 'Human Condition'; a short story - 'Etymology'; a musical interlude - "Wings"; an announcement concerning a Patreon project, and a meditative essay - "Awe".
Episode #18 of the Sufi Reverberations Podcast contains: A selection of Floetry entitled - 'In Remembrance of Mecca'; a short story - 'Cul-de-Sac'; a musical interlude - 'Finally Home'; an announcement concerning a patreon project; and the meditative essay - 'Humility'.
Episode #17 of the Sufi Reverberations Podcast features: A selection of Floetry entitled 'God Who Is Here' or 'Allah Hu'; a short story - 'Commitment's Reward'; a musical interlude - 'Equinox'; an announcment concerning my patreon project, and a meditative essay - 'Equality'.
Episode #16 of the Sufi Reverberations Podcast contains: A Floetry selection entitled: 'In Memory of the Teachings of Hazrat Jami'; a short story - 'Leaving'; a musical interlude - 'Discovery'; an announcment about free Bridge software, and a meditative essay - 'Aspiration'.
Episode #15 of the Sufi Reverberations Podcast contains: Floetry selection in memory of the teachings of Hazrat Hujwiri; a short story - 'A Depressed King'; a musical interlude - 'Lasting Impression'; an announcement for free Bridge software, and a meditative essay - 'Curriculum'.
Episode #14 of the Sufi Reverberations Podcast contains: A Floetry selection entitled - 'In Memory of the Teachings of Hazrat Ata'illah (may God be pleased with him)'; a short story - 'An Event'; a musical interlude - 'Memoirs'; an announcemennt about the free Bridge software program, and a meditative essay - 'Mureed'.
Episode #13 of the Sufi Reverberations Podcast contains the following items: A selection of Floetry entitled -" Life, A Work In Progress"; a short story - "The Three Amigos"; a musical interlude - "Golden Rays"; an announcement concerning free Bridge software, and a meditative essay - "Blessings".
Episode #12 of the Sufi Reverberations Podcast contains: A floetry selection in commemoration of the teachings of Hazrat Abu Sa'id; a short story - "Dependence"; a musical interlude - "Nice Work"; an announcement concerning the gifting of books to libraries, and a meditative essay - "Aspirations".
Episode #11 of the Sufi Reverberations Podcast includes: A floetry selection entitled "And That Is Enough For Us"; a short story - "The Ceremony"; a musical interlude - "Peace"; an announcement about a Patreon project involving the gifting of books to libraries, and a meditative essay - "Friend"
Episode 10 of the Sufi Reverberations Podcast contains: A selection of floetry entitled: Hafiz; a short story - 'As Many Loaves'; a musical interlude - 'Morning Haze', an announcement about free Bridge software, and a meditative essay - 'Doubt'.
Episode #9 of the Sufi Reverberations Podcast contains: A selection of Floetry in memory of the teachings of Ibn al-'Arabi (may God be pleased with him); a short story - 'Status Report', a musical interlude - 'Open The Door', an announcement concerning free Bridge software, and a meditative essay entitled - 'God'
Episode #8 of the Sufi Reverberations Podcast contains: A selection of Floetry entitled - 'Mystical Poem'; a short story, 'The Inheritance'; a musical interlude, 'Inspiration Hill'; an announcement about how to obtain free 'Bridge' software, and a meditative essay, 'Forgiveness'.
Episode #7 of the Sufi Reverberations Podcast contains: A selection of floetry that is in memory of the teachings of Hazrat Shabistari; a short story entitled - "Reunion"; the musical interlude - "Places I've Been", and a meditative essay - "Courage".
This episode of the Sufi Reverberations Podcast contains: A piece of floetry entitled 'In Remembrance of Farid-u-din Attar'; a short story, 'Crisis'; a musical interlude, 'Contemplation', and a contemplative essay, 'Idols'.
This episode of the Sufi Reverberations Podcast contains: A floetry piece entitled: 'States, The Usual Suspects'; a short story - 'Bidding For Favors'; a musical interlude: 'Wandering Soul', and a meditative essay: 'Knowledge".
This week's episode of the Sufi Reverberations Podcast contains a piece of floetry entitled: "Hands"; a story: "Original Intent"; a musical interlude: "Remember The Time", and a meditative essay: "Devolution".
The third episode of Sufi Reverberations Podcast contains a piece of floetry entitled: 'The Gift', as well as a short story: 'Prayer Revealed', a musical interlude: 'Country Memories', and a meditative essay: 'Science'.
This edition of the Sufi Reverberations Podcast contains a poem entitled: "The Way Home", a story - 'Point-Counterpoint', a musical interlude: "Gypsy Dance", and a meditative essay: "Light".
Features a poem entitled: The Last Sermon, as well as short story: "Sufi and the Snowman", along with a meditative essay called: "Freedom, and, finally, a musical interlude: Delphina.
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Interrogative Imperative Institute, Brewer, Maine 04412